The new creative writing and walking season has started this June on Swanage Pier, with the first session during Purbeck Arts Week finding inspiration from the pier history and perspective as a place where journeys start and end, and as a journey in itself from end to end.
Upcoming creative writing themes are 'stone' on 26th June, and 'the sea' on 30th July. Following in the footsteps of Thomas Hardy as he arrived in Swanage pier by paddle steamer, writers of all ages and abilities will be encouraged to listen, read, discuss and write their own response to the Purbeck landscape and experience of the pier past, present and future.
The walks are slow paced with lots of rest stops, and the act of walking is part of the creative process, bringing rhythm and nature connection into our thoughts, senses and words.
Sarah Acton is the Jurassic Coast (UNESCO) World Heritage Site poet-in-residence. Sarah creates participatory poetry and creative writing activities under the name Black Ven, including site-specific walks and guided workshops that invite participants into an active and enquiring relationship between their creativity and nature.
Please bring pen and paper, and appropriate clothes for the weather. There will be indoor classroom space available if it rains!
Join Sarah at the ticket gate 26th June and 30th July at 10.30am, finishing at 12 noon. Each session is £10 per person and bookable by email: Activities@swanagepiertrust.com or call 01929 425 806.